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Auto thefts continue to decline

As law enforcement officials continue to employ new methods to combat car theft, one of the net results could be cheaper auto insurance.

According to a report from the Denver Post, law enforcement officers and auto companies have taken efforts to reduce the number of thefts. According to the newspaper, the rate of car thefts in Denver dropped by 30 percent in 2008, down to a total of 3,591.

In order to fight theft, auto companies have added new, technologically-based deterrents such as coded car keys. Furthermore, the paper noted that greater cooperation between police departments in the form of task forces has led to a drop in the crime.

"There are still some ways to get around it, but we're working very diligently with industry and insurance companies on reducing the number of thefts," Colorado State Patrol Captain David Santos told the Post. "We're hoping that downward trend will continue."

A reduction in auto thefts, the paper said, may lead to a decline in auto insurance rates, though members of the insurance industry don't know the exact effect as of yet.

Along with the efforts of the auto industry and law enforcement officials, there are a number of things car owners can do to keep their car safe. The National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends that car owners take a multi-level approach to protecting their vehicles, which would include common-sense measures like keeping vehicles locked and parked in well-lit areas.